Acetylene-gas generator.



No- 798,829. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. L. P. POWELL.

AGBTYLBNE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION r1Lnn'APR.1s,19o5.

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No. 798,829. PATENTED SEPT. 5 1905. L. P. POWELL.

AGSTYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION Plum APR.18, 1905.

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UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER P. POYELL, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NIHV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SUNLIGl-l'l GAS I\I;-\(IIL\'IG COMPANY, OF NFAV YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NE JERSEY.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

To a who/1t it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER 1P. PownLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Island City. county of Queens, and State of 5 New York, have made anew and useful Invention in Safety Appliances for Acetylene-Gas (,iOIIQlfLtOIS, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is directed particularly to an improvement upon certain appliances disclosed in a prior patent granted to me on the 6th day of December, 1904, and numbered 776,756; and it has for its objects, first, to insure the more certain operation of the safety appliances which connect the lid or cover of the carbid-hopper with the means for disconnecting the feeding mechanism from the antomatic control of the gasometer when said lid or cover is opened; second, to provide additional safety appliances whereby when the gasometcr reaches its lower feeding limit, should there for any reason be an arch or bridge formed of the carbid at the lower outlet end of the carbid-hopper, the feedcup will be automatically restored to its closed position, thus avoiding all possibility of an abnormal discharge of cal-bid should it be left open and the mass of carbid for any reason liberated other than in the usual or normal 3 way.

My invention will be fully understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a perspective view illustrating my improvement as applied to the specific structural gas-generating apparatus disclosed in the before-mentioned patent; and Fig. 2 is a plan viewillustrating that part of the mechanism on top of the carbid-hopper, the lid 0r 4 cover being removed. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevational View of the same, illustrating the operation of this part of the apparatus; and Fig. +L is an enlarged side elevational view as seen looking at Fig. 1 from right to left, this figure of the drawings illustrating particularly the locking and releasing means of the improvement whereby both of the beforementioned objects are accomplished.

In the use of the apparatus disclosed in the 5 before-mentioned patent it was possible to open the lid or cover by moving the same vertically through the agency of the operating-screw to which it was connected and not disconnect the latch from the control of the feeding mechanism, and with a view of overcoming this defect one feature of the present invention was devised, the arrangement being such, as will be more particularly described in connection with the description of the mode of operation, that by no possibility can the lid or cover be uuseated without performing the complete function of disconnecting the feeding mechanism from the control of the gasometer. I have also ascertained that it sometimes happens in the use of automatic gravity-feed carbid-generating machines that the carbid will become packed together at the bottom of the carbid-hopper in such a manner as to form practically a sustaining-arch for the mass of carbid above it, therebychecking the further feed thereof. \Vhen this occurs, should the gasometer reach its lower or feeding limit, there is a possibility of opening the weighted feeding-cup to its extreme limit, and in this event any unnatural jar of the apparatus might disrupt the arch of carbid and convey at once an abnormal amount of the same into the generating-chamber, thereby rendering the apparatus liable to excessive damage due to the generation of an unusual amount of gas. It was with the object of overcoming this possible danger that the feature of unlocking or disconnecting the gasometer controlling mechanism. from the feeding mechanism was devised, when the gasometer by further descent would open the feed too wide.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in all of which like letters and numerals of reference represent like parts wherever used, A represents the carbid-homier, located above the feed-chamber F, which in turn is secured directly to the gencrating-chainber B.

O represents the gasometer, seated in the usual gasometer-tan k I). H represents a double or duplex feed-bar pivotally supported at its upper end to a horizontal rod sustained in turn by a standard (i'r, attached to the top of the gasometer (I. 1 represents a horizontally-disposed shaft journaled at one end in the side of the feed-chamber F and at the other to a standard secured directly to the top of the gencrating-chamber B. 2 represents a crank secured directly to said shaft and supporting at its free end a pivoted releasmglatch 3, the disengaged end of which has a notchi, adapted to engage under normal conditions with a pin 5, secured to the outer end of a crank 6, secured in turn to a shaft 7, JOLHDitlCCl in a suitable journal-bearing attached to one side of the feed-chamber F and extending through said journal-bearing into the feed-chamber, said shaft being provided at a point inside the feed-chamber with identically the same structural connections and arrangements for feedingthe carbid as is disclosed in the before-mentioned patent, but not shown here. 12 is an opcrating-lever attached to the outer end of the shaft 1 and having a weight 13 at one end for rotating said shaft in one direction, the other end of said lever 12 being provided with a grooved roller, as shown, adapted to move between the two parts of the double or duplex feed-bar H, the arrangement being such that the gasometer in its descent rotates the shaft in one direction and the weight 13 in a reverse direction, all as disclosed in the before-mentioned patent. 14 is a chain attached at the lower end to the releasing-latch 3, and 8 is an angular arm constituting an integral part of the latch and performing a function when in use which it is not necessary to describe here, the same being fully disclosed in the beforementioned patent. Y represents the lid or cover of the carbid-hopper, and S an operating-wheel for controlling the movement there-.

of, all of the parts so far described being fully disclosed in the before-mentioned patent.

The present improvement consists in features which will now be described. The upper end of the chain 14L isconnected directly to the free end of a lever 1 pivotally supported atits other end to a locking-bar K, one end of which is pivotally supported upon a standard a upon the top of the carbid-hopper, the other end of said lever being provided with a locking-notch 0, (see Fig. 2,) adapting it to be secured by a cap-screw a to a second standard a when the parts are rotated horizontally into closing position, it being understood, as will be apparent on inspection of the drawings, that the lid or cover V is loosely secured to and moves with the'locking-bar Kin vertical positions through the agency of a screw 6, threaded in the locking-bar and provided with an operating-wheel S. The lever 3 is provided with an oblong slot (see Fig. 2) and the screw 6 with a shoulder, all so arranged that as the screw is raised or lowered the lever y is correspondingly raised or lowered. A rubber gasket-ring (not shown) is located between the opening and the lid or cover and is of such elasticity as will permit of considerable vertical movement of the lid before it is effectually unseated. The latch 3 (see Fig. i in particular) is provided with an inclined face 8, adapted to bear upon a corresponding inclined face 8 on one side of the crank 6, and the function of these parts will be described in connection with the description of the mode of operation, this particular feature having for its object the disconnection of the latch when the gasometer falls below the proper feeding limit.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings the apparatus is disclosed in full lines as in complete condition for operation with the latch 3 in such position as to connect the controlling apparatus of the gasometer with the feeding apparatus inside the feed-chamber F, and the lid or cover V is shown in closed position. When it is desired to open the lid or cover, the attendant simply rotates the wheel S in the proper direction to lift said lid vertically, and the sameaction causes the lever y to be elevated into the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby putting sufficient stress upon the chain 14 before said lid is effectually unseated to lift the latch 3 into the position shown in dotted lines, thereby disconnecting the feeding mechanism from the control of the gasometer. Should an arch of carbid be formed in the base of the carbidhopper, as before described, the gasometer G will descend and acting through the interconnecting mechanism will actuate the latch 3 in such manner as to rotate the shaft 7 into the lower position, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. L) and inasmuch as the arch of carbid prevents any further feed the gasometer will continue to descend when the toe of the inclined face 8 of the latch 3 rides upon the inclined face 8 of the crank 6, ultimat-ely raising it into the position shown on the left-hand side of the figure, at which time the angular relations of the latch and the pin 5 are such that the weighted feed-cup will be released and restored to its normal or closed position, thereby preventing any further possibility'of feed and avoiding such an accident as above referred to.

I do not limit my invention to the especial details of construction disclosed in the accompanying drawings, as a number of the features thereof might be materially departed from and still come within the scope of my claims hereinafter made.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to prevent the packing or arching of carbid at the bottom of a carbid-hopper by providing means controlled by the movement of the gasometer whereby the carbid in the bottom of the hopper is agitated or caused to be moved as the process of feeding continues.

My invention contemplates the absolute prevention of the feed of the carbid in the event of the formation of anarch or the packing of the carbid, and l desire it understood that my claims are generic in this particular and also with relation to means for absolutely preventing the possibility of feed when the lid or cover of the carbid-hopper is unseated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an acetylene-gas generator a carbidhopper provided with a removable lid or cover;

hopper provided with a removable lid or cover 1 having means for first lifting it from the seat in a vertical position and additional means for then moving it laterally from over the opening; in combination with antomatically-actuated feeding means and a chain or cord between the feeding means and the lid or cover, whereby upon lifting the lid or cover from its seat the feeding means is rendered inoperative, the arrangement being such that the lid or cover cannot be opened without preventing any feed of carbid, substantially as described.

55. In an acetylene-gas generator a carbidhopper having a removable lid or cover provided with means for lifting it vertically from its seat: in combination with feeding mechanism and additional means movable vertically with the lid or cover; together with a chain or cord between the same and the feeding mechanism, whereby when the lid or cover is lifted from its seat the feeding means is rendered inoperative, substantially as described.

a. An acetylene -gas generator provided with a removable lid or cover for the carbidhopper; means for unseating said lid or cover by moving it vertically: additional means for moving it laterally in a horizontal plane and feeding mechanism controlled in its operation by the gasometer; in combination with means movable with the lid or cover and a chain or cord connecting the latter means and the feeding mechanism whereby the lid or cover cannot be lifted or left off its seat without rendering the feeding mechanism inoperative, substantially as. described.

In an acetylene-gas generator means for feeding the carbid into the generating-chamber; in combination with a gasometer and interconnecting means for automatically effecting the feed of carbid when the gasometer falls a predetermined amount; in combination with additional means detachably connected with the feed-cup and controlled by the further descent of the gasometer for totally cutting off the feed when the carbid 'chokcs or arches at the mouth of the hopper,

substantially as described.

(5. In an acetylene-gas generator means for feeding the carbid into the generating-chamber; in combination with means detachably connected with the feed-cup and controlled by the gasometer for absolutely discontinuing the feed when carbid becomes choked or arched in the mouth of the carbid-hopper, substantially as described.

7. In an acetylene-gas generator a carbidhopper; means for feeding the carbid into the generating chamber; interconnecting means between the same and the gasometer for effecting automatic feed; additional means detachably connected with the feed-cup for discontinuing the feed when the carbid becomes choked or arched in the mouth of the carbidhopper, all of said parts being automatic, substantially as described.

8. In an acetylene-gas generator a carbidhopper; a generatingchamber and a gasometer; in combination with feeding mechanism embracing a weighted pivoted cup for feeding the carbid into the gencrating-chamber, said feeding mechanism being actuated in one direction by the gasometer and in a reverse direction by the action of gravity; together with a releasing-latch between the gasometer and the feeding mechanism and means detaehably connected with said feed-cup, whereby when the carbid fails to feed normally, the feeding mechanism is returned to off or closed position and all feed of carbid positively prevented, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUTIIIGR I. POIVELL.

\Vitnesses:

(J. J. KIN'INER, M. F. Knivriue. 

